Pinochet Hasn't Earned Forgiving

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

December 3, 1998

In your remarkable editorial on Nov. 28, you suggest that Pinochet should be forgiven for his alleged murders, tortures and false imprisonments by his regime because the people of Chile have chosen to reconcile with their past and move forward.

When I read about his victims who seem to protest in Santiago, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, New York, London and all other major cities, then I wonder which people have forgiven Pinochet. You mean the people who directly benefit from the status quo in Chile like the politicians and businessmen?

There is no reason to forgive dictators who methodically murdered and tortured opponents. Pragmatic? So after the World War II in a scenario where Hitler survived this turmoil and "the people" were able to forgive him for his crimes, he should be forgiven? I don't think so; justice should prevail anytime, anyplace and anywhere.

My deepest respect for the English Supreme Court; in spite of political and economic pressure, they took the only right decision; no tyrant should be unpunished as long as he/she lives.

And I'm surprised that the Sun-Sentinel endorses a more "pragmatic" approach since one of the first orders of Pinochet was the arrest and torture of your fellow journalists after his takeover because they were not expressing his opinion.